Document Rejection
There are a number of reasons for document rejection and many of them relate to the notarial act. The annual national costs associated with rejection, from faulty notarization and other imperfections, are estimated to be $400 million.4
Among the most common reasons for document rejection stemming from notarization are:
Omission of the notary's signature or seal.
Illegible notary signature or seal.
Improper form of acknowledgment.5
Incomplete or incorrect execution of the form of acknowledgment (e.g., omission of the date or name of the principal, or incorrectly spelled name of the principal).
Omission of the form of acknowledgment (i.e., notary merely "stamps and signs"). 6
Omission or illegibility of the principal's signature.
Documents are not notarized. Signatures on documents are.
A notary will fill in the date the document in question is notarized, the date of his or her expiration and the county and state in which they operate. They will sign after the document is signed in their presence.
Generally, yes. However, it depends on the document. A document without a date is not necessarily invalid.Generally, yes. However, it depends on the document. A document without a date is not necessarily invalid.Generally, yes. However, it depends on the document. A document without a date is not necessarily invalid.Generally, yes. However, it depends on the document. A document without a date is not necessarily invalid.
"Sign, date and notarize them and file for safekeeping."
The notary stamp has no affect on the validity of the document. A notary is typically appointed for a period of a few years. No one has to go and get all their documents 're-notarized' to keep them valid.
Attesting to the signature and date being notarized involves a notary public verifying the identity of the signer and confirming that they willingly signed the document in their presence. The notary then affixes their seal and signature, along with the date, to authenticate the transaction. This process ensures the document's legitimacy and provides legal assurance that it has been properly executed.
You could append a document to a will, and have it notarized, giving the correction to the date of birth, but it would seem more logical to me to just redo the will with a correct date and get that notarized. Typing is easy, these days, with the advantage of computerized word processing.
In general, age does not make a document invalid. However, keep in mind that notarization attests only to the date of the signature and the identities of the signatories; it is not a representation that the statements in the document are true. In particular, a notarization years later does not prove that any date in the document, other than the specific date on which the document was notarized, is in fact a true and correct date. This may or may not matter: if you sign a will, and five years later think "gee, I should have this notarized", you can go and do so without invalidating the will, because it doesn't really matter what your will said during a five-year period in which you didn't die, what matters is what it says WHEN you die. However, if the person who made the will has died in the interim, a post-mortem notarization is going to look awfully fishy (and no ethical notary would notarize such a document anyway).
To format a notarized paper, include a heading with the title "Notarized Statement" at the top of the document. Below this, provide the details of the statement or agreement, leaving space for the notary's seal and signature. End with a signature line for the individual making the statement, followed by the date. Ensure there is ample space for the notary to verify and sign the document.
A notarized signature does not have a specific expiration date in the context of divorce; it remains valid as long as the document it accompanies is relevant and has not been revoked or superseded by a new agreement. However, the enforceability of the notarized document may depend on state laws and the specific circumstances of the divorce. It's advisable to consult with a legal professional to ensure that the notarized documents are still applicable in the context of the divorce proceedings.
A signed IOU can be legally binding. It can be enforced by the estate if needed.
Predating a notarized document—dating it earlier than the actual signing—can be considered fraudulent if done with the intent to deceive. While the legality can vary by jurisdiction, it generally raises serious legal and ethical concerns. Notaries are required to ensure that the document is signed in their presence, and altering the date can undermine the document's validity. It’s advisable to consult legal counsel for specific guidance related to your situation.